Developer Cartridge Power Supply Perpendicular Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image-forming apparatuses experience instability in alignment and power supply at the developing agent image-forming area, leading to impaired image quality.
Innovation Solution
An image formation device with a developer cartridge and a process cartridge that includes a developer carrier, a conductive member, and a power supply member, where the developer cartridge is configured to be installed and removed from the developer cartridge mounting frame, and the power supply member contacts the conductive member perpendicularly to the pressing action direction, ensuring stable power supply and alignment between the image carrier and developer roller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the power supply member contacts the conductive member in the conventional image-forming apparatus, then power is supplied to the developing roller, but the contact state becomes unstable and alignment is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply member contacts the conductive member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pressing action direction, introducing a new dimensional approach to power supply contact. This perpendicular contact direction separates the power supply function from the pressing function, preventing interference between alignment and power supply stability
Solution Approach 2:
The contact mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the urging member handles pressing action independently, while the power supply member handles electrical contact independently in a perpendicular direction. This segmentation prevents the coupling of alignment and power supply issues that occurred in the conventional integrated design
2Ease of operation
If the developer cartridge is made freely attachable/removable, then ease of operation is improved, but alignment stability and power supply consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive member mounted on the developer cartridge case serves as an intermediary that ensures stable electrical contact. The power supply member on the main body contacts this intermediary component, which remains stationary on the cartridge case, thereby maintaining consistent contact even when the cartridge is frequently attached and removed
Solution Approach 2:
By orienting the power supply contact direction substantially perpendicular to the pressing action direction, the invention creates an independent contact pathway that is not affected by the mechanical attachment variability, thus maintaining reliability while allowing easy cartridge replacement
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(A)~3(B)
AI summary
The pressed area 141e mounted on the developer cartridge case 141 is pressed towards a developer cartridge pressing direction X. The developer roller 144 and the photosensitive drum 152 are in contact at a contact position CP. Power is supplied to the developer cartridge 140 when the power supply protrusion 147b connected electrically to the developer roller rotation drive axis 144a and the power supply part 118 mounted on the outside of the developer cartridge 140 are pushed together in the power supply pressing direction S. Here, the power supply pressing direction S is semi-orthogonal to the pressing action line Y that connects the pressing position PP and the contact position CP. Furthermore, the power supply protrusion 147b crosses the pressing action line Y.